Author Archives: Steven Harper Piziks

Writing Nowadays–Scripted Romance

Posted on June 10, 2013 by

Elizabeth Browning wrote, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,” and people take that as a metaphor. But seriously–count them.  Please! I’m coming off yet another poorly-written romance novel simultaneously catching up on the TV show ONCE … Continue reading →


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Posted in Writers on Writing, Writing Nowadays | 13 Comments

Writing Nowadays–Shameless!

Posted on May 27, 2013 by

Now we pause for a moment of shamelessness.  And on Memorial Day, yet!  My new novel The Havoc Machine has recently arrived in bookstores everywhere. This is the fourth novel in my Clockwork Empire series. If you haven’t read the … Continue reading →


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Posted in Announcements, Writing Nowadays | 2 Comments

Writing Nowadays–Kindle Fanfic

Posted on May 23, 2013 by

Amazon has announced that their Kindle Direct Publishing program will now allow people to submit and publish television fanfic for “Gossip Girl,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “Vampire Diaries.”   A number of authors quickly chimed in about how draconian the contract … Continue reading →


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Posted in Publishing, Rants, Uncategorized, Writers on Writing, Writing Nowadays | 11 Comments

Writing Nowadays–Flaws vs. Weaknesses

Posted on April 22, 2013 by

Odysseus was proud.  Bilbo Baggins was shy and cowardly.  Othello wouldn’t listen. Superman barfs in the presence of kryptonite.  Vampires die in sunlight.  Silver poisons werewolves. See the difference? Every hero has to have a flaw.  A flaw is a … Continue reading →


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Posted in Writers on Writing, Writing Nowadays | 2 Comments

Writing Nowadays–A Pleasant Nightmare

Posted on April 8, 2013 by

One of the perks of being an author is that you get free copies of your books from the publisher.  It’s awesome!  And with the release of my Corporation duology and my Silent Empire series at Audible.com, I was really … Continue reading →


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Writing Nowaday–Crashing the End

Posted on March 25, 2013 by

You’re writing climax of your book.  Your protagonist is facing insurmountable odds or an unsolvable problem.  You already know how the protagonist will win through in the end, and he’ll do it by confronting one of his basic flaws.  You’re … Continue reading →


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Writing Nowadays–Important Low Stakes at Downton Abbey

Posted on March 11, 2013 by

In the last installment of this blog, I shredded DOWNTON ABBEY for some sloppy writing.  Just to be even-handed, we should also look at why the show is so successful.  Writing-wise. The stakes at DOWNTON ABBEY are stunningly low.  It’s … Continue reading →


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Posted in Writers on Writing, Writing Nowadays | 2 Comments

Writing Nowadays–Sloppiness at Downton Abbey

Posted on February 25, 2013 by

BLOGGER’S NOTE: Although I maintain that once a TV show has aired, it’s no longer necessary to issue spoiler alerts, I shall nonetheless warn you that I’m going to talk about the plot of Downton Abbey here.  Because I’m just … Continue reading →


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Posted in Writers on Writing, Writing Nowadays | 11 Comments

Mad Scientists and the Igors Who Love Them

Posted on February 20, 2013 by

It’s Mad Scientist Week, and I couldn’t stay away.  I love mad scientists.  Scratch that–I adore mad scientists. Around Book View Café, I’m unofficially known as Igor, and my icon on our in-house bulletin board system is a picture of … Continue reading →


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Posted in Books and Reading, Events, Holidays/Holy Days, Writing Nowadays | Tagged | 2 Comments

Writing Nowadays–Accidental Spoilers and the Internet

Posted on February 11, 2013 by

The writing blogger must issue a huge apology. Now, I have to say up front that I’m generally spoiler insensitive.  In my humble opinion, once a TV show has aired, all bets are off. Those who haven’t watched it yet … Continue reading →


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Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments